Electrical starting and ignition system



July 1, 1930.

' M. MALLQRY ELECTRICAL STARTING AND IGNITION SYSTEM Filed May 10, 19282 Sheets-Sheet l M. MALLORY July 1, 1930.

. ELECTRICAL s'm'nne AND mnmon SYSTEM Filed May 10, 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented July 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs Quarries u wn 15ml;Trina:

Application am an n,

The present invention relates to .an electrical starting and ignition sstem for use in connection with internal com ustion engines.

- battery is fully charged; but when the starter is being erated tostartthe engine, it causes 7 a heavy rain on the battery, which resultsin a considerable voltage drop, generally to about one-half of thenormal voltage With the present device, the resistance unit in theprimary circuit of the ignition system is automatically cut out when thestarting motor is engaged to crank the engine, so that the ignition coiloperates to produce hot-s arks from a very low primary voltage, an

engine is started and the generator increases the voltage, theresistance. is automatically 30. inserted again in the primary ignitioncircuit by disengaging or opening the circuit between the batteryand'starting motor.

The specific details of-th'e invention, together with its mode ofoperation, will be 5 more'fully explainedin connection with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrated the same in connection with awell knowntype of ignition system.

n the drawings Figure 1 is a wiring diagram illustrating one embodimentof'the invention; Fig. 2 is a simllar diagram illustrating anotherembodiment of the invention;-

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a unit which may be used inconnection wit a common type of ignition system for carrying ,outthe'invention. I As illustrated in Figs. land 2, the ignition system inconnection. with which the invention may be used, comprises the usualbatafter the of the drop in voltage.

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tery A having a line B leadin therefrom through an ignition switch C anadapted to be connected to a' circuit breaker D, which is actuated by acam E, and to a distributor arm F, which leads successively to sparkplugs G. A starter circuit, also connected to the battery A, leadsthrough a line H and starter switch I tothe starting motor J which isada ted tobe operated to start the engine.

- j e system to which my invei1tion relatescomprises an ignitioncoil,preferably including a primary'5 and a secondary 6. The primary 5 isconnected through a resistance element 7 and wire 18 to the battery lineB, the other end of the primary being connected throu h a line to theinterrupter D. The secon ary coil 6 is connec at one end to the line 18and at the other en through the line 19 to the distributor F. shunt 8extends across the resistance 7 in the circuit throu h the primary coil5 and includes a norma ly' open switch 9. A line 10' is connected withthe starter circuit H, parallel with the starting motor J and includes abi h resistance magnetic coil, which is adap to close the switch 9,whenever the ,circuitthrough the starting motor is closed.

In the system illustrated in Fig. 1, the high resistance magnetic coilin the line 10, as indicated at 1 1, is wound about a core 12, of whichthe switch 9- constitutes the armature. When the switch I is closed tooperate the startin motor J, sufiicient current will ass throug thecoil'11 to close the switch 9, 1 without any material lessening of thecurrent through the starting motor. When the engin'e is runningnormally, suflicient current or ignition is supplied through theresistance element 7. When the starter is being operated, the switch 9closes to cut out the resist-v ance 7, thus furnishing a hot spark inspite 1 In the system as illustrated in' Fig. 2, the

high resistance magnetic coil in the line 10 is indicated at-13 and iswound about the switch 9. Thus, the core of the-coil 13 is it-' self themovable elementwhich ismoved to close the shunt circuit through the line8 when the starter is operating. The form of the invention illustratedin Fig. 2 involves the same principles as that illustrated in Fig. 1.

The invention is especially adapted to be carried out in connection withany i nition system now in common use. For this purpose, the ignitioncoil and the parts associated therewith may be manufactured and sold asa unit, which may be arranged as illustrated in Fig. 8, and which isadapted to be substituted for the ignition coil in the existing system.If the existing system contains a resistance element in series with theignition coil, that is likewise removed.

The parts of this unit and the connections therefor. as represented inthe drawings, are designated by reference numerals, while the remainingparts of the system, which are common to practically all ignitionsystems now in use, are designated by letters.

In this unit, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the ignitioncoil, which in thepresent instance includes a primary and a secondary, is enclosed withinan insulating housing 14 supported by a base 15, by means of which itmay be mounted on any suitable part of the motor vehicle. One end of themagnetic coil 13 may be grounded to the frame and the other end isconnected to a conductor element 16 which is mounted on the housing andprovided with a terminal 17 to which the line 10 may be connected. Oneend of the primary coil is electrically connected through the resistanceelement 7 to a terminal 21, to which the line 18 may be connected. Theother end of the primary coil is connected to a terminal 23, to whichthe line 20 may be connected. One end of the secondary coil is connectedto the terminal 21 and the other end is connected to a terminal 22, towhich the line 19 may be connected. Thus, it will be seen that theinvention is adapted to be installed in connection with any existingignition system with the least possible trouble.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the deviceconstitutin the subject matter of the invention is sirnp e in itsconstruction, yet will operate efliciently for the purpose described. Itmay be used in connection with any engine having a battery and astarting motor which is adapted to be connected thereto by a switch.

A device embodying the essential features of the invention may bemanufactured and sold as a unit, which may be installed in any startingand ignition system now in use without altering the latter in any wayexcept to connect said unit.

In any system having a resistance coil the latter may be taken ofi andmy device substituted as a unit therefor; and in an system which doesnot have a resistance coi my device may be installed, with theresistance between the battery and the primary coil, which resistance iscut out during the operation of starting the motor.

It is obvious that the essential features of the invention may beembodied in various wa s other than those shown and described, an it ismy intention, therefore, to include all such possible modificationswithin the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device adapted to be embodied as a unit in an ignition system, andcomprising an ignition coil with primary and secondary windings, meansfor mounting the same in cluding a housing, a resistance mounted on saidhousing, means for connecting said primary winding and said resistancein series in an ignition circuit, means mounted on said housing forshunting out said resistance but normally inoperative, and. means forconnecting said shunting means to a starter circuit in such a manner asto be rendered operative when the starter circuit is closed.

2. A device adapted to be embodied as a unit in an ignition system, andcomprising a primary coil and a secondary coil, means for mounting thesame including a housing, means for connecting the coils to a batteryand to the ignition devices respectively, a resistance mounted on saidhousing between the primary coil and the battery connection, a shuntacross said resistance and having a normally open switch, and anelectromagnet supported by said housing and operable, when energized, toclose said switch, and terminals for connecting said electromagnet to astarter circuit.

3. A device adapted to be embodied as a unit in an ignition system, andcomprising a primary c011 and secondary coil, means for mounting thesame including a housing, a resistance mounted on said housing, meansfor connecting the primary coil and the resistance in series with abattery and timer, means for connecting the secondary coil to adistributor, means on said housing for shunting out said resistance butnormally inoperative, and means for connecting said shunting means to astarter circuit in such a manner as to be rendered operative when thestarter circuit is closed.

4. An ignition coil comprising a primary winding, a magneticallyoperated switch having a resistance element connected across itscontacts, one end of the resistance being connected directly to one endof the primary winding, and an electro-magnet for operating the switch,said'magnet having a fixed armature constituting one of said contactsand a movable core carrying the other contact, said armature and coreconstituting a path of low resistance to short circuit said resistanceelement when the magnet is energized.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

MARION MALLORY.

